By Joan Aguon Charfauros

Copyright kuam

Guam Power Authority’s proposal to raise base rates won’t be heard this month by the Public Utilities Commission. PUC chief administrative law judge Fred Horecky confirmed the petition is off the agenda. The base rate increases were originally expected to take effect in September to help pay for costs associated with the new Ukudu Power Plant in Dededo.

But a new issue at the facility—unrelated to a previous steam turbine problem—has delayed its full commissioning.

The PUC is guam’s rate-setting body. And the base rate is one of two major parts of your bill—the other is the Levelized Energy Adustment Clause, which fluctuates with fuel costs. Last month, the LEAC dropped from 20.8 cents per kilowatt hour to 15.5 cents, cutting an average residential bill by about $53.

If approved, the base rate hike would add around $30 to the monthly bill for customers using 1,000 kilowatt hours, including a $5 hike in the customer charge.

GPA is still seeking approval from the Consolidated Commission on Utilities to proceed with contractual options for the power plant, which will be taken up in their work session this week.